(Original post by Apeiron)
I would suggest the following rather broad topics:

the debate about the structure of society (individual/family/state);
the investigation of the physical cosmos;
the idea of ethics;
the use of axiomatic method in mathematics.

Sorry to quote you twice - i really liked your answer!

I've also been asked to write about one thing - only one! - about the classical world that's particularly fascinated me, and i have a 500wrd limmit. I've not done any classical subjects before, and my place at uni depends on this answer :/ do you have any suggestions as to how i should go about it? What do you think they (the uni) would think is a good answer? Should i talk about the politics or art or way of life or a piece of lit? And how can i make it all an impressive answer in only 500wrds?

I've also been asked to write about one thing - only one! - about the classical world that's particularly fascinated me, and i have a 500wrd limmit. I've not done any classical subjects before, and my place at uni depends on this answer :/ do you have any suggestions as to how i should go about it? What do you think they (the uni) would think is a good answer? Should i talk about the politics or art or way of life or a piece of lit? And how can i make it all an impressive answer in only 500wrds?

I guess it'd be good to try not to make it too generic. Maybe speak about some things you experienced yourself, that's kind of what I did in my PS. They might be sick of hearing stuff like "Oh, the Greeks survive in our philosophy! And so much Latin and Greek in English words!". I'd go for something more "exotic" that still makes sense. Ancient answers to modern problems? How would Plato explain why Twilight is rubbish? Are trivial comedy shows ruining our culture? What are alternatives to contemporary educational systems? Should Germany get away with the hegemony it's pursuing in the EU? Of course it all depends on your interests and on how much you're already familiar with what areas Classical subjects touch upon.

Though I don't really know whether it fully deserves that commendation since I haven't seen it yet.

Is it Beardy's programme? It was on TV last year, if so. Quite interesting, but nothing really educational if you already know something about Pompeii. I think my personal highlight of the programme was the Prof.'s crouching over an ancient lavatory translating the erudite bog-wall graffito, Marcus hic bene cacavit.

I've also been asked to write about one thing - only one! - about the classical world that's particularly fascinated me, and i have a 500wrd limmit. I've not done any classical subjects before, and my place at uni depends on this answer :/ do you have any suggestions as to how i should go about it? What do you think they (the uni) would think is a good answer? Should i talk about the politics or art or way of life or a piece of lit? And how can i make it all an impressive answer in only 500wrds?

Since it's used for admissions and so quite important to you, if you wanted, you could PM what you write to a few of us to look over and offer some comments -- I don't think that many of us would mind doing that, I wouldn't at least.

And I like Sappho's idea about relating the ancient to the modern in a semi-quirky way, especially since you only have 500 words to work with, although you could do something plainer and pull it off just as well too. Once you've chosen a topic, we may be able to give you some advice on things you could namedrop consider.

I've seen way worse, and occasionally almost as witty, stuff scrawled on the toilets in Latin and Greek incidentally. My favourite one roughly translates (though if I recall with terrible accentuation): "As Kallimakhos says, a big evil". Genius...

(Original post by Sappho)
I guess it'd be good to try not to make it too generic. Maybe speak about some things you experienced yourself, that's kind of what I did in my PS. They might be sick of hearing stuff like &quot;Oh, the Greeks survive in our philosophy! And so much Latin and Greek in English words!&quot;. I'd go for something more &quot;exotic&quot; that still makes sense. Ancient answers to modern problems? How would Plato explain why Twilight is rubbish? Are trivial comedy shows ruining our culture? What are alternatives to contemporary educational systems? Should Germany get away with the hegemony it's pursuing in the EU? Of course it all depends on your interests and on how much you're already familiar with what areas Classical subjects touch upon.

Let me know if this makes no sense

(Original post by jismith1989)
Since it's used for admissions and so quite important to you, if you wanted, you could PM what you write to a few of us to look over and offer some comments -- I don't think that many of us would mind doing that, I wouldn't at least.

And I like Sappho's idea about relating the ancient to the modern in a semi-quirky way, especially since you only have 500 words to work with, although you could do something plainer and pull it off just as well too. Once you've chosen a topic, we may be able to give you some advice on things you could namedrop consider.

#

Thank you guys soo much!! I'm gonna try and write something now and i'll message you guys when i have i really appreciate your help!!

(Original post by jismith1989)
Is it Beardy's programme? It was on TV last year, if so. Quite interesting, but nothing really educational if you already know something about Pompeii. I think my personal highlight of the programme was the Prof.'s crouching over an ancient lavatory translating the erudite bog-wall graffito, Marcus hic bene cacavit.

This year whenever I see a latin word now I instantly start to just think, 'right then, how is that declined, what does it tell me about the word'. Which is a great improvement of last year where I just looked it up in the grammar.

(Original post by jismith1989)
I think my personal highlight of the programme was the Prof.'s crouching over an ancient lavatory translating the erudite bog-wall graffito, Marcus hic bene cacavit.

You do realise I know feel like putting that on a toilet wall? Maybe as Marcia though, in a female toilet. Sorry, this post makes no sense. I'm procrastinating from my tutorial reading although it's actually really interesting... Sooo tired!

(Original post by Sappho)
You do realise I know feel like putting that on a toilet wall? Maybe as Marcia though, in a female toilet. Sorry, this post makes no sense. I'm procrastinating from my tutorial reading although it's actually really interesting... Sooo tired!

I've been reading an article on Isidore of Seville's (620-630s) Etymologies and just worked out that perhaps it doesn't actually have anything to do with the seminar tomorrow and might instead just be help if you want to do geographical writing for the source commentary....might finish reading it first and then go to bed.

I've also been asked to write about one thing - only one! - about the classical world that's particularly fascinated me, and i have a 500wrd limmit. I've not done any classical subjects before, and my place at uni depends on this answer :/ do you have any suggestions as to how i should go about it? What do you think they (the uni) would think is a good answer? Should i talk about the politics or art or way of life or a piece of lit? And how can i make it all an impressive answer in only 500wrds?